Australia has been requested to extradite a former US Marine who trained Chinese fighter pilots in violation of US arms control laws.



Since being taken into custody in Australia in October, former US citizen Daniel Duggan has been in custody.


Duggan maintains that he has not violated any laws, and his attorney contends that the allegations are politically motivated. Australia and the United Kingdom, among others, have issued warnings to personnel in the air force about entering into lucrative contracts of a similar nature.


According to American officials, Dugan trained Chinese pilots at a "test flying academy" in South Africa more than a decade ago, and he is currently facing four charges in the United States for "military training."


Earlier this week, Reuters reported on the contents of the indictment against Dugan. It claimed that he had not received permission from the US government to provide China with military training, despite the fact that the US State Department had informed him via email in 2008 that he required permission from the government to train foreign air forces.


At the request of the United States, the former pilot, who is now an Australian citizen and has given up his US citizenship, was arrested two months ago in Orange, New South Wales.


Duggan's legal counselor, Denise Miralles, says it would be a "tragedy of equity" on the off chance that he is shipped off face preliminary in the US. Due to the absence of a statute in Australian law dealing with such charges, they argue that Australia ought to oppose extradition.


He stated that "extradition should be refused on the basis that it does not meet the requirements of double crimes" because "Australia has not imposed an arms embargo on China, Australia has not imposed other sanctions on China."


Australia, on the other hand, is working to reverse this trend. In response to reports that Australian veterans were being enticed into providing training, the defense minister of Australia made the announcement of a review of privacy policies within the country's defense forces last month.


"Let me make it clear that Australians who work or have worked in any capacity for the government and who are privy to national secrets have a responsibility to take those secrets to their new job," Richard Marles stated. keep your distance from.


Ex-military pilots should avoid working for the Chinese military, according to a British intelligence alert that was issued in October.


Additionally, Miralles stated that he would submit a complaint regarding Dogan's "inhumane" treatment while in custody to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. He asserted that Dogan was not receiving medical care.


On December 20, five days before the Australian government's deadline for making a decision on the extradition request, Duggan will stand trial in a Sydney court.